Hydraulic strategy of cactus trichome under arid environment

Being an
essential component in various metabolic activities, water is important for the
survival of plants and animals. Cacti grown in arid areas have developed
intrinsic water management systems, such as water collection through spines,
water absorption through trichome, and water storage using mucilage. This study
analyzed the morphology and wettability of cactus trichomes by
using advanced bio-imaging techniques and by performing experiments
on an artificial system mimicking these structures, respectively. In
addition, the insitu
water absorption process through the trichome cluster was quantitatively
visualized.